Universal Supply-Control Module for Faster Pharmacy Picking Setup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The setup and installation of modern pharmacy order picking apparatuses typically disrupt pharmacy operations for at least five days due to the lengthy process of installation, calibration, and equipment setup, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A pharmacy order picking apparatus featuring a universal supply and control module that can be quickly integrated with various housing variants, concentrating essential electrical assemblies in the module for pre-calibration and connection during manufacturing, reducing on-site setup time by eliminating the need for site-specific electrical connections and calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional pharmacy order picking apparatuses are installed with custom electrical assemblies and calibration performed on-site, then the apparatus can be customized for specific pharmacy needs, but the installation and setup process takes at least five days, disrupting pharmacy operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling and pre-calibrating electrical assemblies at the manufacturing site before delivery to the pharmacy. The universal supply and control module comes with electrical assemblies that are already connected and calibrated, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site calibration and setup while maintaining adaptability through the modular universal design that can interface with different housing variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality through the universal supply and control module that can be adapted to work with multiple housing variants and different pharmacy configurations. The standardized electrical assemblies and universal coupling interfaces allow the same module to serve different pharmacy needs without requiring custom on-site assembly, thus reducing installation time while maintaining versatility.
2Manufacturing precision
If electrical assemblies are connected and calibrated on-site during installation, then the apparatus can be precisely adapted to the specific pharmacy environment, but the calibration process extends the setup time by two additional days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing all electrical assembly calibration during the manufacturing process at the factory. The universal supply and control module is delivered with pre-calibrated electrical assemblies that are ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site calibration while maintaining high precision through controlled factory calibration environments.
3Quantity of substance
If a large order picking apparatus is installed to provide high storage capacity, then the pharmacy can store more medication packages, but the installation process takes even longer, extending the disruption period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the order picking apparatus into modular components: housing variants providing storage capacity and a separate universal supply and control module containing all electrical assemblies. This modular design allows the large apparatus to be assembled from pre-configured modules, reducing installation time while maintaining high storage capacity through the housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality through the standardized universal supply and control module that can serve different housing sizes and configurations. Whether the pharmacy needs a small or large storage capacity, the same universal module can be adapted to the appropriate housing variant, allowing large apparatuses to be installed quickly without requiring proportional increases in calibration and setup time.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pharmacy picking device (I) comprising a housing (I 0) with a plurality of shelf bases (II) disposed one above the other, at least one operating device (12), a conveyor device (14), a housing-coupling interface (15), and a universal supply-and-control module (20). This universal supply-and-control module (20) comprises a feed device (21), an identification and measurement device (22), operator input/output devices (23), an electronic controller (24) and a voltage supply assembly (25), as well as a housing-coupling interface (15) and an electrical interface (27), said supply-and-control module (20) being arranged adjacent to the housing (10) such that a mechanical coupling is produced by said housing-coupling interface (15) and module-coupling interface (26), in such a manner that drug packages in or on the supply-and-control module (20), which are to be deposited, are delivered to a position on the conveyor device (14) which is known to the electronic controller.